Zverev sends a warning to Sinner and is going for his number 1: "I am very motivated"

Alexander Zverev successfully navigated a complicated debut at the ATP Beijing, where he managed to overcome Cameron Norrie and avoid one of those particularly dangerous first matches after a continental switch. The German managed to get through a tough hurdle, something that several of his teammates from the recent Laver Cup could not do, as they fell in their first match of the Asian tour.

Zverev resolved the match in two sets and left quite positive feelings despite the short adaptation time to China. The German improved as the games progressed, especially relying on his serve and showing a level higher than he himself expected after the long journey, the time zone change, and the shift from indoor conditions to the outdoor courts of Beijing.

An important victory also due to what is at stake during this final stretch of the season. Zverev faces the tournament with great objectives and with the intention of continuing to accumulate points in a struggle for the top spots in the ranking, which he wants to remain fully involved in. Beijing thus appears as an opportunity to see how far the German can go in his attempt to get closer to the world number one.

After his victory against Norrie, Zverev spoke about his adaptation to China, the format of the Masters 1000, the debate about best-of-five sets matches in Grand Slams, and the motivations he still holds in this final stretch of the calendar.

Zverev's press conference, seeking number 1 and criticizing those who want to change the Grand Slams

Adaptation after the trip and feelings on his debut

“I think the main thing has been trying to adjust my sleep rhythm. Overall, as I said, I'm a bit surprised because I thought I would feel worse. Actually, I am quite happy with my level. I think it was a high-level match from both of us. I also think Cam played extremely well. I can't complain at all about how today went.”

Debate on eliminating best-of-five sets matches in Grand Slams

“Who wants to do that? Who wants to do it? I think winning a Grand Slam is one of the hardest things in sports precisely because we play best of five sets. If it weren't like that, we could simply play more Masters 1000 and add four more tournaments of that type during the year.”

“A Grand Slam is different because it is played best of five. It's history. It is part of what we do and also the reason why we physically prepare ourselves this way. I also don’t agree with all that debate about attention span and such, because the Australian Open had record numbers this year, and the US Open also had record numbers. I don’t really share that argument because I believe that tennis is growing.”

“I don’t know any player who wants to play the Grand Slams best of three sets. Yes, maybe Novak wants to play best of three now because he is evidently getting a bit older, but I think if you had asked him ten or fifteen years ago, he would have said no. It is part of history. It is the hardest thing to win in our sport because we play best of five sets. Physically, it is one of the most extreme experiences you can go through. So no, I do not support that change, just to be clear.”

Zverev knows that he has the number 1 in the Ranking within reach and is going for it. Sascha sends a message that he's going all out on this tour.

🗣️ "There have been seasons when I arrived in China tired and really didn't have that motivation because I didn't have much at stake."

🗣️… pic.twitter.com/JbQRTjCYoG

— José Morón (@jmgmoron) October 1, 2026

Format of ATP 500 and two-week Masters 1000

“I love it. I think the Masters 1000 should be like this. They used to be like this. In the Masters 1000, there were eight players with a bye and the rest did not. You could see incredible matches from the first round. The number 16 in the world could face the 17th. The number nine could play against 18. I think it was spectacular. Now you have to wait until the third round, practically a week, to start seeing matches of that level. The format of the ATP 500 hasn’t changed and that I like a lot. I think the format we have here is fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about it.”

The keys to his victory over Cameron Norrie

“I think my serve helped me a lot, especially in the important moments. But I also think that, generally speaking, I played well from the baseline. I did not return as well as I would have liked, although we should remember that I have only been in China for two days. I will take today’s performance. Certainly, I’m not going to complain. Overall it was a good match. I think I hit well with my forehand, served well, my backhand was solid, and I managed to do what I needed to do.”

Physical condition and quick adaptation to Beijing

“No, I have no physical issues. When you come from another continent and have a seven-hour time difference, it’s normal to think that you might not feel too good. That was rather the reason. Also, I came from playing an indoor tournament and now I am playing one outdoors. Honestly, my body feels good. I went to see my doctor again on Monday after the Laver Cup. Whenever I go to see him, it’s when I feel best. That’s why he’s a good doctor.”

Cumulative fatigue and motivation in the final stretch of the season

“You have to remember that we are in China, in another continent. Most of us are Europeans, Americans, or South Americans. Making this trip at the end of the season is very, very difficult. I think the players who tend to perform well here normally have something to fight for, some kind of motivation to do well. For me, fatigue starts first in the mind, in the head.”

“There have been seasons when I arrived in China tired and I didn’t really have that motivation because, for example, I was third or fourth in the Race, I was already qualified for Turin, and in a way, I wasn’t fighting for anything specific. I didn’t have much at stake. Right now, I feel very motivated. I have objectives. I have motivations that allow me to keep going and stay mentally fresh.”

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev manda un aviso a Sinner y va a por su número 1: "Estoy muy motivado"